Cowboys lasso Canadian kicker

The Dallas Cowboys wasted little time scooping up Mike Vanderjagt, the most accurate placekicker in NFL history.

Vanderjagt, an unrestricted free agent from Oakville, Ont., signed a three-year contract Thursday with the Cowboys, who had sought a proven kicker because Jose Cortez, Billy Cundiff and Shaun Suisham all struggled last season.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Vanderjagt, who turns 36 on Friday, was sensational for the Indianapolis Colts last season, connecting on 23 of 25 field-goal attempts and all 52 converts for 121 points in 16 games.

But a missed 46-yard field goal in the closing seconds of a 21-18 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Game knocked the Colts out of the playoffs and Vanderjagt out of a job.

"Everyone kind of had it a foregone conclusion that Mike wouldn't be back," Colts head coach Tony Dungy said.

Vanderjagt had spent his entire eight-year NFL career with the Colts, who chose to replace him with free agent Adam Vinatieri from New England.

Vinatieri, who helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls in five years, reportedly signed for five years and $12 million US with a $3.5-million US signing bonus.

"You do not just get rid of guys without being able to replace them," Dungy said. "We were able to replace (Vanderjagt) with a great, great kicker."

Vanderjagt's 87.7 per cent success rate on field goals (217-245) is the highest in NFL history.

He also holds the league record for consecutive field goals made (42).

Vanderjagt won back-to-back Grey Cups with the Toronto Argonauts in 1996 and 1997.

with files from Sports Network